karaya gum

noun

ka·​ra·​ya gum kə-ˈrī-ə- 

: any of several vegetable gums similar to tragacanth and often used as substitutes for it that are obtained from tropical Asian trees (genera Sterculia of the family Sterculiaceae and Cochlospermum of the family Bixaceae)

especially : one derived from an Indian tree (S. urens)

Word History

Etymology

Hindi karāyal resin

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

karaya gum

noun

: any of several laxative vegetable gums that are similar to tragacanth and are often used as substitutes for it, that are obtained from tropical Asian trees (genera Sterculia of the family Sterculiaceae and Cochlospermum of the family Bixaceae), and that include especially one derived from an Indian tree (S. urens)

called also gum karaya, karaya, sterculia gum